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Ratify

To approve or confirm, usually referring to the formal acceptance of constitutional amendments or treaties. ¾ of states.

Veto

The power of the president to reject legislation passed by Congress.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Amendment

A formal change or addition to the Constitution.

Federalism

The division of power between national and state governments.

Nationalists

Individuals who advocate for a strong central government.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution who advocated for a balance of power between national and state governments.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution who feared it gave too much power to the national government.

Preamble

The introduction to the Constitution, outlining its purpose.

Northwest Ordinance

A law that established a method for governing the western territories.

Land Ordinance of 1785

A law that regulated land sales in the Northwest Territory.

Articles of Confederation

The first written constitution of the United States, which established a weak central government.

Shay’s Rebellion

An uprising led by farmers in Massachusetts in 1786, protesting high taxes and economic injustices.

Virginia Plan

A proposal for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state.

Great Compromise

An agreement that established a two-house legislature with the Senate having equal representation and the House of Representatives based on population.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement that allowed states to count three-fifths of their slave population for representation purposes.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing individual rights.

Legislative Branch

The branch of government that makes the laws.

Executive Branch

The branch of government that enforces the laws.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government that interprets and explains the laws.

The Federalist Papers

A collection of 85 essays written in support of the ratification of the Constitution.

Checks and Balances

A system that ensures no one branch of government becomes too powerful.

1st Amendment

Guarantees freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

2nd Amendment

Protects the right to bear arms.

3rd Amendment

Prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes without consent.

4th Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

5th Amendment

Provides rights of the accused, including protection against double jeopardy and self-incrimination.

6th Amendment

Guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial.

7th Amendment

Guarantees the right to a jury trial in civil cases.

8th Amendment

Prohibits excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.

9th Amendment

Affirms that the enumeration of rights in the Constitution does not deny other rights retained by the people.

10th Amendment

Reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

This was the name of the first written constitution

Articles of confederation

Simply means introduction

Preamble

A collection of 85 Essays created to encourage ratification of the new constitution

The federalists or the federalists paper

Division of government power between state and federal government

Federalism

Change to the constitution

Amendment

Under the articles of confederation this number of states had to ratify

All had to ratify

Who has the power to veto proposed legislation

Executive branch/president

How many members currently serve congress

535

Added tot he constitution to protect individual rights and basic civil liberties

Bill of rights

The post office was who’s idea

Benjamin Franklin

What are the three branches of government

Legislative, Executive, Judicial

This is the total number of US senators

100

This is the total number of members currently serving in the House of representatives

435

The Virginia plan was created to benefit which states

Large

This is how long Washington served as president

8 years/two terms